1. Detroit Lions - QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame (6-4, 228) The Lions need a lot, and most likely will be looking for their quarterback of the future. Quinn brings all of the intangibles a franchise is looking for to the table.
2. Oakland Raiders - OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin (6-8, 313) The Raiders have the undaunting task of improving their offensive line, and it starts with Joe Thomas. Thomas is only one year removed from a major knee injury though, but he is the best offensive lineman prospect on the draft board.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Troy Smith, Ohio State (6-1, 215) If Jon Gruden sticks around, this pick could easily be DE Gaines Adams, but the front office will be looking for the next Vince Young, especially after witnessing Young turn-around a putrid offense.
4. Arizona Cardinals - OT Levi Brown, Penn State (6-5, 328) Levi Brown isn't considered a top 5 pick necessarily, but many think of him as being in the 6-15 range. Whether or not Dennis Green is fired, solidifying this offensive line is the only way to go in the first round.
5. Houston Texans - RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (6-2, 218) The Texans' need to right the ship on offense, as the defense may be turning the corner with DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams. Adrian Peterson is a nice cinderblock to build a foundation upon.
6. Washington Redskins - DE Gaines Adams, Clemson (6-5, 260) The Redskins need to get more pressure on opposition and besides Cornelius Griffin, they have little to offer on the defensive line. Gaines Adams is a top 3 prospect that will fall due to team needs.
7. Cleveland Browns - WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech (6-5, 235) While the Browns need to solidify their 3-4 defense, they don't have the luxury on passing up Calvin Johnson. Joe Jurevicius is getting old and Dennis Northcutt has played his way out of the starting gig alongside Braylon Edwards.
8. St. Louis Rams - CB Leon Hall, Michigan (5-11, 194) The Rams need help at both cornerback and safety but will lock up a first round cornerback for the second straight season. He is a strong hitter who has a nose for the ball.
9. San Francisco 49ers - WR Dwayne Jarrett, Southern Cal (6-5, 210) The 49ers need help in the secondary but lack a true playmaker at the wide receiver position. Antonio Bryant is nothing but a good #2. Jarrett has the talent to have a good impact on QB Alex Smith in just his first season.
10. Green Bay Packers - DT Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State (6-3, 295) The Packers lack a true defensive tackle that is starting grade. They swap out role players and backups every Sunday. They could go with a defensive back here but in this draft, defensive backs are a dime a dozen.
11. Minnesota Vikings - WR Sidney Rice, South Carolina (6-4, 202) The Vikings will pass on Ted Ginn Jr, because they already have one wide receiver that has questionable hands (Troy Williamson). Sidney Rice is a reputable playmaker that silences his critics with his play and not his mouth.
12. Carolina Panthers - QB Jamarcus Russell, Louisiana State (6-6, 260) The Panthers need to start grooming a quarterback of the future because Jake Delhomme is regressing. At one point, the Panthers were one of the trendiest Super Bowl picks but the quarterback play has been horrendous.
13. Miami Dolphins - OLB Paul Posluszny, Penn State (6-2, 238) Donnie Spragan has been a porous linebacker that struggles to get pressure on the quarterback. This defense is just one step away from being great and Posluszny could be the final piece of the puzzle.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Daymeion Hughes, California (6-2, 188) Offensive line help is needed but the value for a guy like OT Joe Staley isn't here at this pick. Hughes is an impact corner that plays like Champ Bailey did in college.
15. Buffalo Bills - CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh (6-0, 200) Revis is a junior that is expected to declare. With CB Nate Clements expected to move on, the Bills will be stuck without an impact player in the secondary.
16. Tennessee Titans - WR Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State (6-0, 180) The Titans are lacking a true impact wide receiver that can break the game wide open. He has some issues with dropped passes
and disappearing at times, but his services will be appreciated in a growing offense.17. Atlanta Falcons - DT Alan Branch, Michigan (6-6, 331) Some see Branch as a top 10 prospect, but I don't see it yet. Grady Jackson is old and the Falcons strongest asset is it's defensive line. Branch is a great addition here.
18. New York Jets - DT Frank Okam, Texas (6-5, 315) The Jets need a big, run stuffing nose tackle in their 3-4 set. Okam or Alan Branch would be nice additions here. The Jets could also go after a cornerback here.
19. Philadelphia Eagles - S LaRon Landry, Louisiana State (6-2, 202) Michael Lewis will be moving on and Sean Considine is not the answer alongside Brian Dawkins. Landry was a first round grade pick last year if he came out early. This ballhawk would come in and start immediately.
20. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Amobi Okoye, Louisville (6-1, 317) With Ryan Sims looking like a bust, Herm Edwards will put his defensive mentality to the test and draft this brilliantly educated youngster from Louisville.
21. Denver Broncos - RB Marshawn Lynch, California (5-11, 217) Face it, Mike Shanahan is struggling with his blocking scheme and running game with average tailbacks. He needs a game breaker. A new Terrell Davis or Clinton Portis. Enter Marshawn Lynch.
22. New York Giants - CB Antoine Cason, Arizona (6-0, 182) This secondary is putrid. They cut William James and get worse. Cason is a gamer and his play is similar of Daymeion Hughes from California.
23. New England Patriots (from Seattle) - S Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame (6-0, 210) Sorry, but this pick makes perfect, absolute sense. Rodney Harrison is getting old and this secondary is starting to lack a true game day wonder. Enter the Mohawk sporting, jacked up hitting safety from Charlie Weis' Fighting Irish.
24. Dallas Cowboys - OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan (6-5, 300) If Joe Staley played at a BCS school, he would get a top 10 grade. Not many scouts have a lot of footage on him and therefore his value is lower. Ten years from now we should be comparing Joe Staley to Steve Hutchinson.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - OLB Earl Everett, Florida (6-3, 234) The Jaguars will need to start looking for the future behind Mike Peterson. Everett could come in and compete with Clint Ingram for the job. The Jags could also go the route of defensive back but could shore up someone like Tanard Jackson (Syracuse) in the second round.
26. Cincinnati Bengals - S Michael Griffin, Texas (6-0, 205) The Bengals' woes on defense keep getting worse. The secondary is up in arms and Dexter Jackson will not finish his career as a Bengal.
27. New Orleans Saints - CB Marcus McCauley, Fresno State (6-1, 205) McCauley is like a blue-nosed Pitbull on the field. He brings speed and strength and solidifies this secondary that is overachieving in 2006.
28. New England Patriots - ILB Patrick Willis, Ole Miss (6-2, 240) Age and injuries are putting a damper on this once great linebacker group. Willis is a solid performer that is not getting the attention he deserves. He has a good mentality and would fit in nice with the team concept in Foxboro.
29. Baltimore Ravens - I/OLB H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh (6-0, 240) Adalius Thomas will probably test the waters of free agency and Ray Lewis is getting older. Blades would be a great compliment to both Lewis and Bart Scott.
30. Indianapolis Colts - DT Justin Harrell, Tennessee (6-4, 300) The run defense needs addressed. Cory Simon can't stave off injuries and the linebackers are playing poorly. There is no excuse for the Colts to not draft a defensive tackle here.
31. Chicago Bears - OLB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma (6-1, 230) With Lance Briggs expected to be gone this March, the Bears need to refortify their linebacker corps. Alexander packs a punch similar to Shawne Merriman without the raw and natural ability.
32. San Diego Chargers - ILB Buster Davis, Florida State (5-10, 240) Randall Godfrey and Donnie Edwards are almost ancient and will be extinct in a few years. With a guy like Davis, you get the all-around athlete that LaVar Arrington should have been. Come on, you know he will be good, his name is Buster!
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